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SPYGATE: ORIGINS
Thread Five
The Operators
SPYGATE: ORIGINS
Thread Five
The Operators
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Ask the average American today what the Iran-Contra affair was about and few could tell you any details, even those who were paying attention when it happened.
Ask the average American today what the Iran-Contra affair was about and few could tell you any details, even those who were paying attention when it happened.
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If people recall anything, it’s this iconic image of decorated Marine officer Lt Col Oliver North, raising his right hand prior to testifying before Congress.
If people recall anything, it’s this iconic image of decorated Marine officer Lt Col Oliver North, raising his right hand prior to testifying before Congress.
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But that’s about the extent of the collective memory. It’s the most convoluted political scandal in American history.
If I detailed the entire scandal, I would lose 90% of my audience. So I’’m going to keep it short.
But that’s about the extent of the collective memory. It’s the most convoluted political scandal in American history.
If I detailed the entire scandal, I would lose 90% of my audience. So I’’m going to keep it short.
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And I promise if you hang around for the last tweet, it’s a doozy.
And I promise if you hang around for the last tweet, it’s a doozy.
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To simplify as much as possible -- the Iran-Contra affair involved the sale of arms to Iran in exchange for the release of American hostages, with profits from the sale used to fund the rebel army (‘Contras’) in Nicaragua.
To simplify as much as possible -- the Iran-Contra affair involved the sale of arms to Iran in exchange for the release of American hostages, with profits from the sale used to fund the rebel army (‘Contras’) in Nicaragua.
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The Boland Amendment barred the Reagan administration from funding the Contras directly. Certainly Congress believed that to be the case.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boland_Am…
The Boland Amendment barred the Reagan administration from funding the Contras directly. Certainly Congress believed that to be the case.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boland_Am…
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The ‘Contra’ side of the operation was run by the CIA chief of the Latin American Division, Duane “Dewey” Clarridge. Of course.
The ‘Contra’ side of the operation was run by the CIA chief of the Latin American Division, Duane “Dewey” Clarridge. Of course.
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However, the focus is this thread is primarily on the swap of arms in exchange for the release of American hostages held in Lebanon.
However, the focus is this thread is primarily on the swap of arms in exchange for the release of American hostages held in Lebanon.
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In the mid 1980’s, the Islamic fundamentalist organization Hezbollah kidnapped several Americans from the streets of Beirut, including CIA station chief William Buckley.
In the mid 1980’s, the Islamic fundamentalist organization Hezbollah kidnapped several Americans from the streets of Beirut, including CIA station chief William Buckley.
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President Reagan wanted the hostages freed. However, the policy of his administration was the US does not negotiate with terrori
President Reagan wanted the hostages freed. However, the policy of his administration was the US does not negotiate with terrori
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So what to do in that situation?
Find a backchannel.
The problem was the US had ZERO assets with connections inside Iran after the Islamic revolution.
So what to do in that situation?
Find a backchannel.
The problem was the US had ZERO assets with connections inside Iran after the Islamic revolution.
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In Nov 1984, Theodore “Ted” Shackley met with several Iranians in Hamburg, Germany. At the time, Shackley had officially retired from the CIA.
It is often said, however, that no one ever retires from the Agency.
In Nov 1984, Theodore “Ted” Shackley met with several Iranians in Hamburg, Germany. At the time, Shackley had officially retired from the CIA.
It is often said, however, that no one ever retires from the Agency.
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One of the men Shackley met was Manucher Ghorbanifar.
Ghorbanifar deserves his own thread. He’s an extraordinary character. Flamboyant yet secretive, he’s the epitome of an international wheeler-dealer.
One of the men Shackley met was Manucher Ghorbanifar.
Ghorbanifar deserves his own thread. He’s an extraordinary character. Flamboyant yet secretive, he’s the epitome of an international wheeler-dealer.
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Ghorbanifar fled Iran after the revolution.
Although he never longer liver there, he claimed to have very good contacts inside the Iran.
Ghorbanifar fled Iran after the revolution.
Although he never longer liver there, he claimed to have very good contacts inside the Iran.
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On several previous occasions, Ghorbanifar approached US officials with the offer of intelligence.
He was given a lie-dectector test and failed miserably. The CIA issued a burn notice on him, calling him a “fabricator and nuisance.”
On several previous occasions, Ghorbanifar approached US officials with the offer of intelligence.
He was given a lie-dectector test and failed miserably. The CIA issued a burn notice on him, calling him a “fabricator and nuisance.”
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Shackley wrote a memo on the meeting when he returned to the US. He passed the information along to the State Dept. State declined to deal with him.
Shackley didn’t even bother giving the memo to the CIA.
Shackley wrote a memo on the meeting when he returned to the US. He passed the information along to the State Dept. State declined to deal with him.
Shackley didn’t even bother giving the memo to the CIA.
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The ever persistent Ghorbanifar didn’t give up.
He went to two Israeli businessmen close to the Israeli Prime Minister with the offer to arrange for the release of William Buckley in exchange for TOW missiles to Iran.
The ever persistent Ghorbanifar didn’t give up.
He went to two Israeli businessmen close to the Israeli Prime Minister with the offer to arrange for the release of William Buckley in exchange for TOW missiles to Iran.
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Prime Minister Peres was interested. The Israeli weapons industry made a lot of money in the early 80’s selling arms to Iran.
Plus, arming Iran had the added benefit of prolonging the Iran-Iraq War, a war that depleted the resources of two of Israel’s enemies.
Prime Minister Peres was interested. The Israeli weapons industry made a lot of money in the early 80’s selling arms to Iran.
Plus, arming Iran had the added benefit of prolonging the Iran-Iraq War, a war that depleted the resources of two of Israel’s enemies.
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Additionally, the Ayatollah Khomeini was over 80 years old and Ghorbanifar claimed the sale of weapons to the moderate elements within the Iranian leadership would help assure their ascendancy when Khomeini died.
Additionally, the Ayatollah Khomeini was over 80 years old and Ghorbanifar claimed the sale of weapons to the moderate elements within the Iranian leadership would help assure their ascendancy when Khomeini died.
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Enter Michael Ledeen, a staff member on the National Security Council (NSC).
Ledeen was one of the founders of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA), a lobbying group for Israeli defense interests.
Enter Michael Ledeen, a staff member on the National Security Council (NSC).
Ledeen was one of the founders of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA), a lobbying group for Israeli defense interests.
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At the time, Ledeen was a part-time advisor to the National Security Adviser, Robert McFarlane.
Ledeen traveled to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Shimon Peres.
At the time, Ledeen was a part-time advisor to the National Security Adviser, Robert McFarlane.
Ledeen traveled to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Shimon Peres.
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According to Ledeen he was a natural choice as a go-between because “Back in those days, I had been asked to deal with the leaders of the Socialist International, and Peres at the time was the head of the opposition Labor party.”
According to Ledeen he was a natural choice as a go-between because “Back in those days, I had been asked to deal with the leaders of the Socialist International, and Peres at the time was the head of the opposition Labor party.”
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McFarlane would later claim Ledeen went on his own initiative (“on his own hook”). Ledeen disputes that claim.
Ledeen has written that “governments need deniable intermediaries.” I call them “operators.”
McFarlane would later claim Ledeen went on his own initiative (“on his own hook”). Ledeen disputes that claim.
Ledeen has written that “governments need deniable intermediaries.” I call them “operators.”
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The State Dept was not notified about Ledeen’s trip. Secretary of State George Schultz was not happy when he later found out.
He told McFarlane the US and Israel did not necessarily share the same interests in Iran.
The State Dept was not notified about Ledeen’s trip. Secretary of State George Schultz was not happy when he later found out.
He told McFarlane the US and Israel did not necessarily share the same interests in Iran.
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After his return, Ledeen had lunch with Shackley. (The two men made a previous appearance together in this series).
After his return, Ledeen had lunch with Shackley. (The two men made a previous appearance together in this series).
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Ledeen passed Shackley’s memo about Ghorbanifar on to Lt Col Oliver North, an NSC staff member.
Eventually, North and Ghorbanifar would be the main points of contact between the US and Iranian governments.
Ledeen passed Shackley’s memo about Ghorbanifar on to Lt Col Oliver North, an NSC staff member.
Eventually, North and Ghorbanifar would be the main points of contact between the US and Iranian governments.
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The problem here is that Ledeen bypassed normal intelligence channels.
Most importantly he bypassed the CIA, which had already issued a burn notice on Ghorbanifar.
The problem here is that Ledeen bypassed normal intelligence channels.
Most importantly he bypassed the CIA, which had already issued a burn notice on Ghorbanifar.
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I won’t cover all the wheel-dealing that went on in the arms-for-hostages saga. Basically, here’s what each party desired to achieve according to Samuel Segev in “The Iranian Triangle: The Untold Story of Israel’s Role in the Iran-Contra Affair”
I won’t cover all the wheel-dealing that went on in the arms-for-hostages saga. Basically, here’s what each party desired to achieve according to Samuel Segev in “The Iranian Triangle: The Untold Story of Israel’s Role in the Iran-Contra Affair”
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🔷President Reagan wanted the hostages freed.
🔷Iran wanted weapons.
🔷 wanted to make money.
🔷Israel wanted a link to Tehran.
🔷President Reagan wanted the hostages freed.
🔷Iran wanted weapons.
🔷 wanted to make money.
🔷Israel wanted a link to Tehran.
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Ghorbanifer constantly over-promised all sides and nearly every party was disappointed.
The focus here is Ledeen since he’s a part of Spygate.
Ledeen was Ghorbanifar’s chief American backer.
Ghorbanifer constantly over-promised all sides and nearly every party was disappointed.
The focus here is Ledeen since he’s a part of Spygate.
Ledeen was Ghorbanifar’s chief American backer.
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One official CIA report stated, “Ledeen is a fan of Subject (Ghorbanifar) and describes him as a ‘wonderful man...almost too good to be true.’”
One official CIA report stated, “Ledeen is a fan of Subject (Ghorbanifar) and describes him as a ‘wonderful man...almost too good to be true.’”
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Theodore Draper writes in “A Very Thin Line: The Iran-Contra Affairs”, “Nevertheless, he {Ledeen} questioned Ghorbanifar about the latter’s troubles with the CIA. When Ghorbanifar indicated that he still wanted to stay in the game, Ledeen told him that he would have to do..
Theodore Draper writes in “A Very Thin Line: The Iran-Contra Affairs”, “Nevertheless, he {Ledeen} questioned Ghorbanifar about the latter’s troubles with the CIA. When Ghorbanifar indicated that he still wanted to stay in the game, Ledeen told him that he would have to do..
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...something about the CIA’s unfriendly attitude toward him. ‘OK,” Ghorbanifar is quoted as saying, ‘I am coming to America later in December in any case, and I will talk to them.’”
...something about the CIA’s unfriendly attitude toward him. ‘OK,” Ghorbanifar is quoted as saying, ‘I am coming to America later in December in any case, and I will talk to them.’”
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Ghorbanifar came to the US and took another CIA administered polygraph test. He failed again. Getting only his name and date of birth right.
washingtonpost.com/archive/politi…
Ghorbanifar came to the US and took another CIA administered polygraph test. He failed again. Getting only his name and date of birth right.
washingtonpost.com/archive/politi…
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More from the Washington Post article:
More from the Washington Post article:
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As a result North’s performance in the American response to the hijacking of the Achille Lauro, North gained more influence within the NSC.
He eventually took over Ledeen’s role in the operation.
As a result North’s performance in the American response to the hijacking of the Achille Lauro, North gained more influence within the NSC.
He eventually took over Ledeen’s role in the operation.
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The whole scheme came crashing down in late 2016.
It was the most damaging crisis of the Reagan presidency.
The whole scheme came crashing down in late 2016.
It was the most damaging crisis of the Reagan presidency.
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Close to a dozen government officials and private citizens were indicted, including North, McFarlane and Clarridge.
Close to a dozen government officials and private citizens were indicted, including North, McFarlane and Clarridge.
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President George H. W. Bush eventually pardoned 6 of the men involved.
(GHWB's Attorney General was Bill Barr)
wsj.com/articles/barrs…
President George H. W. Bush eventually pardoned 6 of the men involved.
(GHWB's Attorney General was Bill Barr)
wsj.com/articles/barrs…
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I learned while researching this thread that McFarlane, a former Marine officer, attempted suicide.
McFarlane believed he had failed his country.
I learned while researching this thread that McFarlane, a former Marine officer, attempted suicide.
McFarlane believed he had failed his country.
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Michael Ledeen was never charged.
It helped he had a very good attorney.
Michael Ledeen was never charged.
It helped he had a very good attorney.
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In the preface to his book on the Iran-Contra affair, “Perilous Statecraft,” Ledeen dedicates the book to his lawyer.
I’ll leave you with that dedication.
In the preface to his book on the Iran-Contra affair, “Perilous Statecraft,” Ledeen dedicates the book to his lawyer.
I’ll leave you with that dedication.
